A1c of 11.7 and glucose of 404

by Josh B

I was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic 11/19/09 while I was working as a paramedic on an ambulance. I had started to urinate more often and always seemed like I was thirsty for about two weeks prior to that day. I only realized something was wrong when one of my co-workers told me that I had a fruity smell on my breath (a.k.a. ketones). I checked my glucose levels on the glucometer on the truck and it to be 390. At which point my partner took me to the ER to be treated. Long story short, the ER doc ran three bags of fluids and an insulin drip for a few hours. After that, my glucose read at 180 and he sent me home on Glucophage. At the writing of this post my fasting glucose sits at around 82 and my A1c is 5.3. I am no longer on meds and can easily control my glucose with diet and exercise. And in the whole process I've lost about 100 pounds. Though I still have around 80 pounds to go.